Minato rushed out of his house in a hurry, his backpack slung crookedly over one shoulder, a piece of toast still hanging from his mouth. The morning wind brushed against his face as he sprinted down the narrow residential street, his school shoes pounding against the sidewalk still damp with morning dew.
"Ugh… why did that system have to appear so early in the morning!?" he grumbled between heavy breaths. "If I'm late again, the Kaichou will kill me!"
His black hair was a mess from the wind, his tie loosely hanging, and the top button of his uniform still undone.
"WAAH! Only ten minutes until eight!" he shouted after glancing at his wristwatch. "I still have to cross two more blocks and—ARGH!"
A car sped past the intersection, forcing him to stop abruptly. He lowered his head for a moment, waiting for the pedestrian light to turn green, then dashed forward with all his strength.
Inside his heart, he cursed his own fate.My life really is like this, huh…
When Kuoh Academy finally came into view, the grand European-style school building stood proudly in the distance. The warning bell signaling five minutes before class rang softly.
"I can still make it!" he said with a relieved smile, though sweat covered his face. He picked up his pace even more.
Standing at the front gate was a beautiful black-haired woman with a neat bob cut—Shitori Souna, the strict and intimidating Student Council President.
Minato stiffened."Oh no… the Kaichou is already at the gate!?"
He slipped into the academy grounds with his head lowered, not daring to look at Souna's expression.
"Minato-san," a gentle yet icy voice called out.
Minato stopped and turned around, forcing an innocent smile onto his face.
"G-good morning, Kaichou… ahaha… beautiful morning, isn't it?"
Souna raised one eyebrow. "A beautiful morning, hm? Beautiful for whom, exactly—someone who's nearly late every single day?"
Minato straightened his posture, hiding his panic behind a stiff smile.
"Ah… I'm not late, just almost late, Kaichou! Look, there are still two minutes left before the bell rings!"
Souna crossed her arms, a soft smile forming on her lips—one filled with pressure. The sunlight reflected off her glasses, enhancing her commanding aura.
"I don't know what kind of luck you possess, Minato-san," she said calmly yet sharply, "but from your first year, second year, and now your third… you always manage to escape being late at the very last second."
Minato laughed awkwardly, cold sweat running down his temple. "H-hehe… well, maybe I was born with extraordinary luck, Kaichou?"
Souna tilted her head slightly, her sharp gaze locking onto him. "Oh, of course. But it makes me curious…" She stepped closer, her voice lowering—soft, yet threatening. "…what kind of punishment would suit you once that luck finally runs out?"
Minato swallowed hard. "G-guh… h-hehe… I-I think there's no need to test that theory, right, Kaichou?"
Souna stared at him for a few seconds before letting out a small sigh.
"For today, I'll let you go. But remember, Minato-san—I'm always looking forward to the day you're truly late."
"Eh!? K-Kaichou! That totally sounds like a threat!" Minato protested in half-panic.
"Hurry to class before the bell rings," Souna ordered.
"Yes, Kaichou!"
Minato immediately sprinted across the schoolyard, his breathing heavy but his heart filled with relief mixed with fear.
He glanced up at the sky and muttered, "Yosh… I survived another day. Thank you, god of luck…"
From afar, Souna watched Minato disappear into the school building, nearly tripping on the stairs in his haste. She let out a quiet sigh and massaged her temple.
"That child is really… impossible," she murmured softly, sounding both tired and amused. "From first year until now, he hasn't changed at all."
Soft footsteps approached from behind. A tall, calm-looking woman with long black hair stopped beside her—Shinra Tsubaki, the Vice President of the Student Council.
"Kaichou," Tsubaki greeted politely, her voice gentle yet clearly accustomed to this situation. "Let me guess… Minato-san again?"
Souna lowered her hand and smiled helplessly. "You already knew before I even answered, didn't you?"
Tsubaki smiled faintly. "It's hard not to guess, Kaichou. Every morning, you wear the same expression… somewhere between frustration and resignation."
"Frustration, yes. But resignation? Not quite," Souna replied, crossing her arms as she stared at the building Minato had entered. "I'm simply waiting for the right moment. Sooner or later, his luck will run out."
"And when that day comes… you already have a punishment prepared?" Tsubaki asked teasingly.
Souna glanced at her and smiled faintly. "Oh, certainly. A punishment that will truly teach him the meaning of punctuality."
Tsubaki held back a small laugh. "I'm starting to feel sorry for Minato-san."
Souna gazed at the now-empty schoolyard. "He's troublesome… but at least this school is never boring because of him."
"So you're not truly angry?" Tsubaki asked.
Souna sighed softly. "Angry, yes. But if I'm honest… maybe a little amused too."
Tsubaki smiled gently. "In that case, shall we head to class, Kaichou?"
Souna nodded, walking alongside Tsubaki.
"For today, you've escaped again, Minato-san…" she whispered. "But tomorrow… we'll see."
===
The break bell rang loudly, greeted by cheerful shouts as students poured out of their classrooms. The sound of chairs scraping and footsteps echoed through the halls of Kuoh Academy.
While others rushed toward the cafeteria or unpacked their lunches, Minato stood up immediately, patting his growling stomach.
"Ugh… I really didn't have time to eat breakfast," he muttered. "That toast didn't even come close to filling me up. How sad my life is."
He quickly headed to the cafeteria. The warm scent of freshly baked bread and school curry filled the air as soon as he arrived. Minato lined up, eyes sparkling as he stared at the melon bread display fresh from the oven.
"Four melon breads, onegai!" he said quickly to the cafeteria staff.
The staff blinked in surprise. "Four at once, Minato-san? Are you sure you can finish them?"
Minato stared at the green breads as if they were the salvation of mankind. "Trust me. This is a matter of life and death."
After paying, he left the cafeteria with a satisfied smile and a paper bag in hand. Instead of returning to class, Minato headed toward the school's back garden—a quiet place rarely visited during break time.
The air there felt peaceful. Small birds flitted between the cherry blossom trees shedding their petals, while a gentle breeze sent leaves dancing softly through the air.
Minato sat on a wooden bench facing a small pond, placed his bag beside him, and pulled out a warm melon bread.
"Ahh~ heaven on earth," he sighed after taking a big bite. "Melon bread, a quiet place, and no Kaichou… perfect."
He took a sip of water and leaned back, gazing at the clear blue sky.
"Maybe… today isn't so bad after all," he murmured.
A sparrow landed on the nearby fence, tilting its head curiously.
"Heh, you want some too?" Minato said, tearing off a small piece and tossing it. The bird pecked it quickly before flying away.
Minato chuckled. "See? Even birds know melon bread is amazing."
He smiled at his third bread, now half-eaten—but before he could take another bite, a voice spoke beside him.
"Satoru-senpai…"
Minato slowly turned. Standing beside him was a petite first-year girl with short white hair, pale skin, and golden eyes that stared sharply yet without emotion—Toujou Koneko.
She held a melon bread identical to his. Without a word, she sat down beside him.
Minato blinked rapidly. "K-Koneko-chan? Eh… since when were you here?"
"Since you started talking to yourself about melon bread and birds," she replied flatly, taking a bite.
Minato froze, his face turning red. "Y-you heard all that?"
Koneko nodded calmly. "Including the part about 'melon bread, a quiet place, and no Kaichou—perfect.'"
Minato covered his face. "Please… pretend you didn't hear the last part."
"Kaichou isn't here," Koneko said quietly, "but I can report it."
"Eh!? Please don't! I'm not ready to die young, Koneko-chan!" Minato panicked, bowing deeply.
After chewing slowly, Koneko spoke."Then… give me one more melon bread. I only got two. It's not enough."
Minato snapped his head up. "W-what!? But… these are my lifeline!"
Koneko looked at him, her emotionless gaze somehow terrifying. "If not, I'll report you."
Minato stiffened. "T-that's a threat, isn't it!?"
Silence followed. Even the birds seemed to hold their breath.
Finally, Minato sighed deeply and handed over his last melon bread."Fine. Take it. But know this is a great sacrifice."
Koneko accepted it and nodded. "Thank you, Senpai."
"You're not gonna report me, right?" Minato asked nervously.
"Not as long as the melon bread exists," she replied.
"So… you're bribing yourself?" Minato asked.
"It's not bribery," Koneko said calmly. "It's… barter."
Minato laughed weakly. "You know, if Kaichou found out she could be bribed with melon bread, she'd be shocked."
"Kaichou also likes melon bread," Koneko said.
Minato froze. "S-seriously!?"
"She eats it in secret," Koneko nodded. "Don't tell anyone."
Minato's eyes sparkled. "So even the perfect Shitori Souna has a sweet secret…"
Koneko nodded again.
After some bargaining, Koneko finally leaned in and whispered calmly,
"I once saw Kaichou wearing a magical girl costume… and she looked very happy."
Minato froze completely.
"She likes cute things. Dolls and ribbon accessories."
Minato stared blankly."So… the most elegant and terrifying Student Council President… likes cute things?"
Koneko nodded.
"If you tell anyone," she said, "I won't accept the cake."
"T-two cakes, tomorrow morning," Minato replied weakly.
Satisfied, Koneko stood up.
"See you tomorrow, Senpai. I'll be waiting here."
Minato leaned back, staring up at the sky with a helpless expression.
---
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